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Page 13, line 1 read about 18,847° it's brilliancy would diminish somewhat towards 
the close of the period but not entirely disappear. 
Page 14 — line 28, read attractions become superior. 
Page 18 — line 15, read convection in place of connection. 
Page 25 — line 18, read perihelion for perehelion. 

Page 26— bottom line, for 78611554 read 

Date of copyright notice should be April 20 1870, in place of April 23, 1870. 



THE GREAT FACTS 

OF 

MODERN ASTRONOMY, 

WITH AN EXPOSITION OF WHAT THEY TEACH 

COMPRISING THE 

<f 0tmttti0tt af tfa Jim mi Mm, 



THE CAUSE OF KOTAKY MOTION, 



THE FORMATION OF 



THE PLANETS AND THEIR SATELLITES, 



SOLUTION OF 



THE LAW OF DISTANCES, 



THEORY OF LIGHT, AND 

THE STJ3ST SPOTS. 



BY WM. S. HENSON, Mechanical and Consulting Engineer 



NEWARK, N. J. 

PRINTED AT THE DAILY ADVERTISER OFFICE. 

1871. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the District Court of the United States, 
BY TO S. HENSON, 
at Trenton, New Jersey, on the 2fld of April, 1ST0. IhdCv -LAAjiX^, 






&-<? 



INDEX. 



I. — Introduction — Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Herschel. 
II. — Translation Through Space ; Multiple Stars. 
III. — Nebulous Spots; Herschel's Theory of Star Formation. 
IV.— Condensation, Aggregation, and Sublimation Explained. 
V. — Appearance of the Heavens; Proportion of Matter to Space; Duplica- 
tions ; Aggregation Law of 
VI. — Comet of 1680 ; Process of Aggregation Described, History of same 
VII. — Rotary Motion, How Produced, Effect of; Nebulas ; Comets ; Asteroids ; 

Planets; Meteoric Stones; Laws of Rotating Bodies. 
VIII. — Law of Distances Described. 
IX. — Aggregation; Grinding, &c; Diversity of Rocks; Earth not Homo- 
geneous; Mean Temperature ; Rain Fall of the Globe; FiistLife; 
Formation of Strata ; Coal; iErolites. 
X. — The Moon — its Possible Origin ; Historical Myth. 
XI. — Mayer's Equivalent of Heat ; Temperature of the Sun by Thermometer, 
and by Velocity of Comet of 1680 ; Radiation from Su v face; Time 
Required to cool one Degree. 
XII. — Theory of Light— Newton's, Huyzen's; Meteors as Fuel ; Mayer's Ideas ; 
Number of Meteors ; Spectrum Analysis — Roscoe's ; Flames Colored 
by mere presence of Matter ; Light Absorbed in Space ; Light from 
Poles of Battery ; Minute Quantities of Matter to Color Light or 
Produce it. 
XIII. — Cucke's Comet — Retardation of, Cause of; Comet Tails Indicate Re- 
sistance and Direction ; Tail of Comet of 1680. 
XIV. — Velocity of Light; Weight of Sunbeam — Loss to Sun therefrom; Com- 
parative Heat by Grains of Coal and Cosmical Matter. 
XV.— Effect of Change in Sun's Motion by Change of Matter; Diminished 
Rotation; Age of System and "World — Slight effect produced upon 
the Earth thereby. 
XVI.— Conclusion ; the Flaming Universe ; Translation of System in Space ; a 
Fact of Portentious Significance; Destruction of our System and 
End of our Period. 
XVII.— Verses. 



PREFACE. 



About seven years ago, during some of the leisure evenings of a temporary 
sojourn in South America, my attention became attracted to the relative posi- 
tions of the sun and planets of our solar system. Their positions impressed 
me as indicating the action of centrifugal force, or, in other words, the posi- 
tion of drops of water thrown from a rapidly revolving grindstone, and, after 
considerable examination and thought, I became convinced that it was so ; 
for when I considered the motions of the planets, that they were all revolving 
on their axis in the same direction as the sun, viz : from west to east, and all 
moved round the sun in their orbits from west to east, and the satellites of 
our earth, Jupiter and Saturn, also moved round their primaries from west to 
east, these facts struck me as a remarkably coincidence, which the Nebular 
Hypothesis of La Place appeared to be totally inadequate to account for. I 
finally concluded they must all have been thrown from the sun, but how and 
by what means did they get into their orbits, were the questions which pre- 
sented themselves, and it was not until the autumn of 1869 that I succeeded 
in solving these problems to satisfy the conditions of the case. 

The solution of the law of distances, known as the Bode law, followed as a 
sequence, of the aggregation of immense quantities of debris flying round the 
sun, nearly in the same plane, in very eccentric orbits, and interlacing with 
eacli other. I submitted everything, as far as I was able, to the test of actual 
experiment, which has enabled me to speak more confidently than I otherwise 
could have done from theory alone. The majn facts of astronomy I obtained, 
to some extent, from Herschel's outlines, but I am chiefly indebted to Hum- 
boldt's cosmos. My information on spectrum analysis I obtained from Roscoe's 
able work on that subject. I found myself anticipated by Mayer on the mode 
of producing heat by collision. Mayer also first suggested meteors, or falling 
stars, as fuel for the sun, as I learned, first about the year 1869, from Enniss 1 
origin of the stars. To Mayer belongs the honor of discovering the mechanical 
equivalent of heat, as I also first learned from Van Nostrand's Magazine, in 
1869. The theory of aggregation and its laws, as described, and the cause of 
rotary motion I am responsible for, as also for the conclusions drawn from 
Newton's laws of motion respecting revolving bodies, whereby I have shown, 
step by step, that the motions of the planets reveal their own history. The 



6 Preface. 

laws of aggregation round a centre are also due to myself, as well as the solu- 
tion of the law of distances, which necessarily formed a part of the law of 
aggregation round a centre, and which accounts for the astronomers not* being 
able to comprehend it. 

My views on light I arrived at not only from the necessity of the case, but 
because without it so many things are left unexplained. I am, therefore, 
compelled to believe it ; in the absence of sufficient evidence to the contrary, 
I cannot but believe that light is really matter. To my mind it appears to be 
the one or more elements from which everything is created, as everything is 
converted into light by the intense perfect combustion in the solar fires. 
Newton assumed that light was matter, and spectrum analysis indicates most 
clearly that light consists of every known substance. Being matter, it be- 
came, of course, proper to treat it accordingly. I believe I am the first to 
assign its density ; its extreme levity explains why it had baffled all attempts 
hitherto made to weigh it ; its action upon the sun's motion gives also reason- 
able data for an approximate estimate of the age of our system and the world. 

It must not be expected, in view of the circumstances under which this 
work has been produced, that the calculations should be anything more than 
tolerable approximations. I make no pretensions to be an astronomer, or to 
enter into the extreme exactness of that exalted science, but the business of 
my life has made me familiar with mechanical motions; and believing that 
I have traced the motions of the planets to their source, I have undertaken, in 
my own way, to make it known. If it is truth, as I believe it to be, it will 
stand ; if it can be shown that it is not true, let it fall. 

WILLIAM S. HENSON. 



GREAT FACTS OF MODERN ASTRONOMY. 



I jSTicolaus Copernicus, who flourished in the beginning of the 16th century 
• was the founder of the system bearing his name, by which the compli- 
cated ptolemaic system was overthrown. He placed the sun (Lucernam Mundi) 
in the centre of the universe, with the planets moving in circles round him. 
Kepler discovered the three celebrated laws which bear his name, and that 
the planets moved in elliptic (uot circular) orbits round the sun. Galileo 
and Jansen invented the telescope. Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of 
gravitation, and demonstrated that the planets were held in their orbits there- 
by. Sir William Herschel, by means of his great telescope and observations 
on the binary star systems, where two stars connected by mutual attraction, 
revolve round each other in very eccentric orbits, demonstrated that the 
action of gravitation prevailed throughout the visible universe. With our 
present knowledge, every star may be considered as evidence of the same fact, 
for without it there could be no stars. The telescope gave an immense impe- 
tus to astronomical discoverie?, for a detailed account of which, during the 
17th, 18th and 19th centuries, I will refer the American reader to the 4th 
volume of Harper's reprint of Cosmos, page 100. The discoveries in our solar 
system comprise the satellites of Jupiter, the rings and satellites of Saturn, 
the discovery of Uranus aud Neptune and their satellites, and 113 asteroids, 
m a zone or belt, between Mars and Jupiter. Five planets only were known 
to the ancients, viz : Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, the Earth 
being considered the centre of the universe, round which the sun, moon and 
stars all revolved. It has long been definitely settled that the sun is the 
centre of our solar system, and revolves on his axis from west to east; that 
the planets also revolve in their orbits from west to east, and also on their 
own axis, as far as known, from west to east. The satellites of the earth, 
Jupiter and Saturn, also revolve round their primaries from west to east; the 
satellites of Uranus being exceptions to this rule, and move in orbits some- 
what retrograde, and nearly jDerpenclicular to the plane of the ecliptic; Nep- 
tune's satellites also deviate considerably from the plane of the ecliptic, while 
all the principal planets and their satellites, excepting the above, and some 
few of the asteroids, deviate but slightly from the plane of the ecliptic ; and the 
plane of the sun's equator inclines only about seven degrees therefrom. With 
this brief outline of the main facts relating to our system, I will now make a 
few observations on some of the modern discoveries in the starry heaven 



8 Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 

n Humboldt in his Cosmos, assigns to Bradley the credit of the first hint of 
i the translation of the whole solar system through space (in a work 
published in 1748) ; but he awards to Sir William Herschel the credit of being 
the first to verify the conjecture by actual observation (from 1783 to 1806). 
Sir William Herschel discovered that our system was moving towards a point 
in the constellation Hercules, which has been since confirmed by others ; he 
also discovered that all the stars in the Sidereal Heavens were in motion, but 
he found nothing to indicate that they moved round a central sun. Here we 
arrive at the important fact that everything in the visible universe is in mo- 
tion, and when we behold their varied distances, and take into consideration 
the universal influence, of gravitation and its laws, we are compelled to con- 
clude that the normal condition of the Sidereal Heavens is one of unbalanced 
equilibrium, containing the elements of constant but slow change; but I will 
speak of this again presently. 

- In the year 1837 Struve published his third table of multiple stars, contain- 
ing 2,787 double stars, and Sir John Herschel, during his residence at the 
Cape of Good Hope, discovered 2,100 more; with others, Humboldt makes 
the total number 6,000. Among the multiple stars, several self-luminous 
bodies are connected by mutual attraction, and revolve around a common 

m centre of gravity, in very eccentric orbits. The so-called Nebulous 
• spots or masses are very numerous ; the number whose positions have 
been determined exceed 3,600 ; some of the more irregularly diffused measure 
eight lunar diameters. (Cosmos, vol. 4: page 14). These remarkable bodies 
have led to much discussion and many conjectures as to their origin and con- 
stitution. According to Sir William Herschel, they cover at least l-270th 
part of the visible universe; he supposed some of them to be clusters of stars, 
so distant as to require a million of years for their light to peach the earth. 
According to Professor Roscoe, in his work on spectrum analysis, (page 250) 
there is good reason to doubt this immense distance. The spectroscope in- 
dicates the existence in somcof the Nebulous spots of gaseous matter, while 
the increased power of the telescope has shown others to consist of clusters of 
stars. The Nebulas vary greatly in form, according to Humboldt; they are 
either regular or irregular, and as difficult to classify as clouds. Some are 
globular; more or less elliptical, annular^or planetary. The elliptical (sphe 
roidal) form has been regarded as the normal type of Nebulas. The planetary 
Nebulas are more rare, according to Sir John Herschel, not more than twenty- 
five in number; they are round or somewhat oval, either sharply defined or 
vaporous at the margins, and bear a strong resemblance to planetary discs. 

Sir William Herschel, after prolonged consideration from 1799 to 1802, 
adopted the theory of star formation through the gradual condensation of 
cosmical vapor as Halley, Lacaille, Tycho, Brahe and Kepler had done be- 



Great Fads of Modern Astronomy. 9 

fore. Humboldt intimates here that this theory and the Nebular theory of 

nj La Place are not necessarily identical. With this preliminary outline- 
• I will for the present cease further remarks on the subject of astronomi- 
cal discovery, and give you some views of my own upon the subject of con- 
densation, aggregation, and some of the effects resulting therefrom, which I 
have arrived at during the past seven years. 

There appears to be considerable misapprehension as to ike modus operandi of 
the condensation of vapors. In order that you may intelligently comprehend 
what I am about to advance, I will first explain how steam and the vapors of 
clouds are condensed into rain. Steam blown from a boiler into the cooler 
atmosphere, immediately condenses into the minute particles forming a mist 
or fog ; these particles seek each other by attraction and unite, first two to- 
gether,then these double parts unite with other double parts, and so on repeating 
the process until their united masses commence to fall as rain, by their increased 
gravity; while it existed in extremely minute particles, it floated in the air 
like dust, but these particles will not commence to unite without mutual at- 
traction. In the case of steam, the difference of temperature and the act of 
condensation creates electrical disturbance, and that produces attraction ; so 
warms clouds containing much vapor, are brought by currents of air in con- 
tact with other clouds of lower temperature, above or below, electrical dis- 
turbance takes place, the particles of vapor attract each other, unite, and 
commence to descend ; others in close proximity do the same ; they attract 
each other during the fall, and unite ; the larger drops fall with greater 
velocity, and overtake the smaller ones and unite with them, and if the elec- 
trical disturbance is strong, the attraction extends to greater distances and 
produces the large drops, so far apart, well known to emanate from thunder 
clouds. It is well known, also, that solid matter, when subjected to great 
heat by the process of sublimation, condenses by cold, in some cases into a 
very fine power, as sulphur, zinc, &c; camphor, mercury or quicksilver cau 
also be sublimated, and probably most substances in nature, provided suffi- 
cient heat is applied. After long consideration, I arrived at the conclusion 
that there must have been a time when our earth and sun, and all the stars 
which stud the Heavens, were once in the condition of extremely fine dust and 
vapor, scattered with a uniform irregularity through the vast space now occu- 
pied by them. How I arrived at that conclusion I will explain as I proceed : 
TT If we observe the stars scattered over the vault of Heaven, we do not 
f » discover any regularity in their arrangement, but rather what may be 
more properly called a uniform irregularity, like the positions of rain drops on a 
pavement at the commencement of a shower. The distance of the nearest fixed 
star — a centauri — has been estimated by astronomers by distances of Neptune 
from the sun, that is by 7,523 times 2,488 millions of miles, (Cosmos, vol. 4, 

2 



10 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

page 54), and it being interesting to know the ratio of the cubic contents of 
the sun and planets to the cubic contents of a sphere in space, extending 
from. the sun's centre to half way to a centauri, in order to ascertain how 
much the matter composing them would require to be attenuated, to fill their 
share of space, I found by calculation that it would be as 14,281,927,982,- 
779,922,916,215 to 1, or as a range of 23 figures to 1, and that each cubic foot 
of matter would have to fill 78,576,605,462 spherical miles, or a sphere equal 
to 4,283 miles diameter. A single grain would occupy 114,407 spherical miles 
equal to sphere 48-|- miles diameter, and the one-millionth part of a grain 
would be contained in a sphere about half a mile diameter. It will be evident 
that matter divided into particles of one-millionths of a grain would be in 
the condition of a very fine powder, and as the weight or gravity of the one-, 
millionth part of a grain is only such when attracted by a sphere, the size 
and density of our earth ; it will be evident how almost infinitely small must 
be the attraction of two such atoms for each other, situated about half a mile 
apart, and that extreme diminutive attraction, still further reduced or almost 
balanced by the attraction of other atoms, situated at various distances round 
it. From this we may form a very faint idea of the immense period of time it 
would require for two such atoms, situated about half a mile apart, to attract 
each other and unite ; yet in the process of aggregation this must have been 
accomplished and repeated a great number of times, yet not so many as it 
would at first sight appear. When aggregating by a geometrical progression, 
2 being the constant mutiplier or ratio, I find that with every increase of 8 the 
diameters of the aggregated masses will be double ; the distances will also be 
double, and the power of attraction of every mass or sphere for every other 
mass or sphere, at that double distance, will be also double; but according to 
Newton's Second Law of Motion, double the power gives double the velocity, 
therefore, although the distances are double, the mean times will remain con- 
stant ; it follows, therefore, that the mean time required for those atoms'of one- 
millionth of a grain, situated at mean distances of about hatf a mile apart to 
unite, is equal to the time consumed since our sun last doubled itself by aggre- 
gation, until it again doubles itself in the remote future ; and the stratified 
condition of our. earth appears to indicate that this periodof time must have ex- 
tended through many millions of years. I find that the process of aggregation 
from atoms of the one-millionth of a grain, to the stupendous mass of our sun 
and his planets, would require only 213 duplications, yet when we consider 
that the mean periods or times of these duplications, are all equal, and how 
long the present condition of our system has existed, we get a faint glimpse 
into the remote depths of the past Eternity, and realize how extremely slow is 
the process of aggregation. 



Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 11 

Sir William Herscliel and others have verified the great fact of motion be - 
ing everywhere, and knowing" the tremendous, far-reaching influence of gravi- 
tation, the conclusion seems irresistible that this process is yet going on, and 
that the creation of our earth and its inhabitants in the economy of the great 
ruling intellect, is but one of many incidents inevitable during this process, as 
I will presently endeavor to demonstrate. Notwithstanding what I have hitherto 
"ITT advanced, and although the process of aggregation, as far as described, 
f Xe is perfectly consistent with facts, yet without further demonstration, I 
could scarcely expect you to realize as I do myself, the truth of what I have 
endeavored to convey to you, but I will proceed. "With equal densities, the 
attraction of spheres upon their surfaces varies directly as their diameters, and 
the velocity which a falling body will attain in one second near their surfaces, 
varies directly with the attractive force. The attraction of the sun is so tremend- 
ous as to bring back the comet of 1680, from 28 of NeptuneVdistances, after an 
estimated absence of 8,000 years ; the motion of the comet became so much ac- 
celerated, that during its perihelion passage its velocity was estimated at 344 
miles per second; according to the best authorities it passed within one- sixth 
of the sun's diameter from the surface of the sun, and it is presumed that if it 
had gone quite to the sun and during that fall been subjected to the immense > 
attraction from near proximity, it would have attained at least 887,775 feet 
more velocity, and this latter, added to the first, would make a total of 
2,704,074 feet per second ; and as during the process of aggregation the falling 
distances would increase directly as the diameters ; .and the force of attraction 
would increase as the diameters, it follows that the velocities of two colliding 
bodies will be as the diameters during every stage, providing the densities 
are equal. The commencement of aggregation will therefore be chiefly re- 
markable for its silent darkness, intense cold, and apparent absence of motion. 
It will require about 117 duplications, each with its immense periods of time, 
to bring the aggregated masses to the volume of a cubic foot, and the motion 
produced by attraction, even immediately preceding conjunction, at this 
time, will not exceed the thirty-millionth part of a foot per seco*nd ; the 158th 
duplication will bring the aggregated masses to the dimensions of a spherical 
mile whose surface attraction would be thirty seven millionths of a terres- 
trial pound. They would be in the condition of spheres of the softest impal- 
pable dust, and the least violence would dissipate them into clouds, but the 
united terminal velocities immediately preceding conjunction would not 
exceed 5 feet per second, effecting the union in the most gentle manner without 
disturbing the prevailing silence. The 177th duplication would bring them 
to the period when heat would commence to be developed by the velocity and 
momentum of the united masses; the united terminal velocities would be 
about 757 feet per second at this time, yet the force of gravitation would be 
only about the five one thousandth of a terrestial pound a marked change 



12 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

would now commence, the minute atoms of frozen watery vapor wonld begin 
to dissolve into liquid, and form with the dust a more or less pasty conscience, 
this would again become deeply frozen in the long period of cold and dark- 
ness following ; and being commingled with air throughout would form a 
light porous homogenous mass of about 188 miles diameter. At the U.ntt 
duplication we arrive at a period of great heat, temendons storms of rain, 
formation of rivers, a general commingling of matter, a stormy, steaming, 
chaotic period, during which the internal heat would create upheavals, and 
form mountains, lakes and oceans, and deposit strata, and as the surface cooled 
living organisms and vegetation of various kinds might exist, the mean tem- 
perature at the commencement would be about 218° Fahrenheit, but the 
surface would gradually cool by radiation to a more temperate heat, and 
would probably during the last half of this period become frozen sol.d, as up 
to this time it would be the most profound darkness. At each of these las 
duplications considerable rotary motion would probably be produced and 
great dark nebulae formed. Up to the 195th duplication would be characterized 
by increased heat and like a steaming, seething cauldron be too hot at their 
commencement for either animal or vegetable life ; they would also be remark- 
able for the violence of the rain storms, such as we can scarcely imagine; 
produced by the immense condensation of the atmosphere of steam, these 
stormy floods, and the violent upheavals, would produce an immense 
amount of grinding and depositing, the denser ingredients would become 
separated from the lighter ones and form deposits by themselves. The last 
duplication would be remarkable as first producing light, a bright red, visible 
by day, with a mean temperature of about 1168° Fahrenheit, at this conjunc- 
tion a large number of elementary bodies would be melted, the water and 
many other substances would be converted into vapor, this period would be 
the commencement of the ordeal and assortment by fire; the great heat 
would produce violent upheavals, and commingling of enormous masses of 
matter • the later half of the period would probably be cool enough to allow 
the steam to condense into water, and again produce another period of storm 
and rain and violent floods and great deposits ; each conjunction accompanied 
by rotary motion and the formation of nebulous masses with temporary 
luminosity, but all becoming invisible after a short period from the obscuration 
of dense clouds caused by condensation near the outer limit of the atmosphere. 
The three succeeding conjunctions up to 1<J8 and their periods would be 
remarkable for the great increase of temperature the last one having a mean 
temperature at commencement of 4,074° Fahrenheit about one fourth more 
than molten cast Iron, the surface would propably become dark during he 
first part of the periods and the latter part be subjected to a repetition o the 
tremendous floods and storms. Thenext three conjunctions up to the 201st and 
their periods would be characterized by greatly increasing temperature oi a 



Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 13 

brilliant red color ; temperature during the commencement of the last about 
brilliancy Would diminish someAyhat towards the close of the peiiod but not 
18,847°, its entirely disappear. The next three conjunctions up to the 204th 
would be characterized by increasing splendor and a mean temperature at com- 
mencement of the last conjunction of 10o,546°, the diameter would be about 
96,350 miles, it would now become a permanent sun with considerable rotary 
motion and at the last conjunction throw out masses of debris and vapors and 
form nebulas, and a planetary system, about the size of Jupiter and his satellites, 
the planets would probably be inhabited. Nine more conjunctions up to the 
213th would bring us to the dimensions of our own magnificent sun and his 
subordinate planets, each of these conjunctions would probably be charac- 
terized by nothing remarkable except increasing splendor, all would probably 
be accouqmnicd by rotary motion, thro w off nebulae, and form planetary s\ stems; 
each increasing in size with the increase of the sun's diameter, and probably- 
each system of planets more or less inhabited by beings endowed with 
instinct, and intelligence, and in every way adapted to the habitats assigned 
them. 

T|"TT I will now explain how rotary motion is produced by the attraction 
V ±±t and collision of two spheres, I will also explain the formation of 
Binary systems and nebulae, the approaches of two spheres towards each other 
would almost invariably be made on more or less curved lines, produced by 
the disturbing influence of other spheres, and when these curves "were opposite 
to each other, and moderate in degree, each sphere would strike the other on 
opposite sides ot the common centre of gravity, this would impart rapid 
rotary motion to the united mass r as the whole mass of each would impart 
its weight and momentum on the one side only, of the other, and the former 
curvilinear motion would become converted into rotary motion. If the 
approaching lines Avere considerably curved either from previous motions or 
disturbing influences during the approaches, the two spheres instead of colli- 
ding would pass round each other, and a common centre of gravity situated 
between them ; and again go off into space in very eccentric, elongated or- 
bits ; but if the approaching lines were so curved as not quite to allow the 
spheres to pass each other ; but to strike their near circumferences on tangential 
lines, the outer sides of each sphere would immediately have an increased 
velocity, much greater than the velocity of the spheres, but never quite double 
on account of the grinding and slipping action at the sides in contact ; each 
sphere would become converted into a lever of the second order, the sides in 
contact being the fulcrum, and the whole weight tending to double the velocity 
of the outer sides creating rapid rotary motion and throwing off from these 
outer sides, enormous quantities of debris to immense distances into space 
approaching the half way to the nearest stars ; (indeed were it not that a 
considerable amount of the momentum was converted into heat, it would 



14 Great 'Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

throw quantities of debris more than half way) and this debris would fly off 
in nearly one plane, like sparks from a revolving rocket ; and this would be 
first a burning star suddenly appearing of immense size in consequence of the 
enormous generation of heat, and the quantities of heated debris flying off 
into space, such as seen by Tycho-Brahe and Kepler ; which would become dark 
nebulae invisible in a short time, but when produced by enormous suns, would 
continue visible for very long periods ; and this is the commencement of 
aggregation round a central sun. Each piece of debris would move in its 
own orbit like the very elongated orbit of comets ; in fact each piece would 
be a comet. Thus; Nebulae, at the first commencement, really consists of 
millions of comets, moving in orbits interlacing and intersecting each other. 
There are comparatively few now left in our solar system. Professor Stephen 
Alexander suggested the idea that the comets and the asteroids had a com- 
mon origin. This hypothesis was renounced in consequence of the difference 
of the orbits. (Cosmos, Vol. IV., page 183.) A comet and an asteroid are 
different in their orbital motions : but when an ascending comet meets a 
descending one a collision takes place. They meet at a considerable angle, 
and by the resolution of forces move in a new orbit compounded of the 
united orbits of the now united body ; the new orbit is less elongated and 
much more circular than either of the former ones ; the broken debris becomes 
the aerolites which abound in our system. After a few more collisions 
ascending and descending, the united comets become asteroids, each con- 
junction making the orbits more circular, and developing great heat. This is 
the first phase or comet period of aggregation from comets to asteroids. The 
second phase is from comets and asteroids into planets, the movements being 
caused primarily by the power of the central body. But the aggregation is 
owing to the interlacing orbits bringing the bodies in such near proximity 
that their mutual attractions becomes superior to the restraining power of the 
central body ; and they unite, developing heat at each conjunction. Beila's 
comet intersects the orbit of the earth ; it also intersects the orbit of Encke's 
comet. On the 29th of October, 1832, Beila's comet passed through the earth's 
orbit a month before the earth passed the same spot ; and Humboldt states 
(Cosmos, Vol. I., page 108) there is a possibility of the inhabitants of the 
earth witnessing an encounter between these two comets, and, possibly, of 
their amalgamation. He also adds, events of this nature must have been of 
frequent occurrence in the course of millions of years in the regions of space. 
In another place, (Vol. IV., page 226,) he alludes to the manifold analogies 
which some meteoric stones present as rocks, with the older so-called trap 
rocks. Both Beila's and Encke's comets pass round the sun from west to 
east like the planets. The planets all revolve on their axis from west to 
east. If a body is revolving, and a portion becomes detached without 
rotary disturbance, the detached portion will continue to revolve in the same 



Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 15 

direction -with equal velocity ; and if two detached bodies] are revolving in 
the same direction, and become united without rotary disturbance, they will 
continue to revolve in the same direction. 

A given mass falling from a given height is equal to au equal mass raised 
to the same height, or it is equal to a lesser mass raised to a greater height, 
or the greater portion of the force may be absorbed in developing heat, 
and yet raise a lesser weight to an equal height; and this is precisely 
what takes place at the conjunction of two suns which have approached on 
curved lines — collision, heat, rotary motion ; enormous quantities of debris 
thrown into space, nearly in the plane of rotation of the central body, each 
portion of debris revolving in the same direction as the central body ; inter- 
section of orbits ; conjunction of masses ; the rotary motion continued in the 
same direction after conjunction, sometimes with rotary disturbance, but the 
mean velocity not greatly varying, the larger planets maintaining their veloci- 
ties better than the smaller ones. The position of the planets so nearly in 
one plane ; the coincidence of their motions in one direction ; the motions of 
the few comets yet left ; the meteoric stones and their identity with the older 
trap-rocks, and the materials composing the crust of the earth, all give their 
testimony in the strongest and clearest manner as to the action of rotary 
motion and centrifugal force, and as to the effect of rotary motion being 
caused by the conjunction of two spheres being made on curved lines ; the 
fact that the binary stars are so numerous must be considered sufficient 
proof, for by what other known mode of action can such motions be 
produced ? • 

The peculiar arrangement of the planets of our system, in respect 
distance from the central body, commonly known as the Bode 
Law, or the law of distances, has caused much discussion among astronomers. 
It has even been denied that it is a law T at all. Sir John Herschel, in his 
outlines referring to this doubling of distances, says : 

" No account a priori, or from theory, can be given oj this singular progres- 
sion, which is not like Kepler" 1 s laws, strictly exact in its numerical verification ; 
but he expresses a strong belief that it is not a mere accidental coincidence, but 
belongs to the essential structure of the system" 

Dr. Olbers conjectured that the asteroids were the fragments of an exploded 
planet, whereas they, with the remaining comets, are all that is left incom- 
pleted in our system. Future generations may yet see the asteroids, now 
numbering 113, aggregate into the smallest planet of our system. During 
the aggregation of masses round a central power, the masses will naturally 
range themselves in receding from that centre, each one about double the 
distance of the one preceding it from the main centre ; for as the central 
power diminishes as the squares of the distances, while the attractive force of 
the planetary masses for each other remains the same, with equal masses at 



viii. ? 



16 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

equal distances, therefore every time the distance from the central body is 
doubled, the mutual attraction of the masses for each other becomes rela- 
tively superior to the restraining power of the central body, and "when the 
former are moving in eccentric orbits and brought into near proximity, not 
being sufficiently restrained, they will continue to aggregate until the dis- 
tance of the masses being also about double the restraining superiority of 
the central power is restored. The relative positions of the satellites of 
Jupiter indicate that they were formed by the same process from millions of 
debris moving in eccentric orbits round the central body. The planets of 
our system do not follow this law exactly. To be all in perfect equilibrium, 
they should be exactly double the distance in receding from the sun, and 
their masses equal. But their masses are not equal, and therefore the dis- 
tances should not be equal ; but the inequalities of mass do not vary with 
the distances. There are, therefore, great differences in their stability. 
Mercury, being nearest to the sun, is less deflected from its orbit, with equal 
power, than any other planet in our system, and Neptune would be most 
deflected from his orbit. If the planets were all of equal size and density, 
and situated at exactly double the distance receding from the sun, then 
Mercury would deflect Yenus from its true orbit double the distance, the 
latter would deflect Mercury ; and Venus would deflect the Earth double the 
distance the Earth would deflect Venus ; and the Earth would deflect Mars 
double the distance the latter would the Earth, and so on all through. But 
these inequalities, according to Sir John Herschel, are very important as 
contributing to correct the perturbations, and prevent the effects of accu- 
mulation. 

All the authorities agree in confirming the fact that the law of distances is 
not understood. It is, in fact, one of Nature's irregular laws, and can only 
be explained on the aggregation theory; and this may, therefore, be con- 
sidered as another proof of the correctness of the latter. 

KWe may now understand how, during the periods of alternate fire and 
• flood, tornado and earthquake, the materials composing the sun and 
planets were ground and assorted by the elements, compressed by the collisions, 
and hardened by the fires ; how the denser metals and minerals were constantly 
tending to the interior depths, and as constantly again being brought upon 
the surface by the action of aggregation, and again subjected to the grinding 
detrision of the elements. We may also obtain clearer ideas as to the inte- 
rior construction of our planet. It will account for the great variation in 
the composition of the earth's crust, and many other phenomena otherwise 
difficult to explain. Humboldt remarks respecting the phenomena of the 
earth's crust, (" Cosmos," Vol. I., page 73:) " It remains to he considered 
whether oy the operation of thought we may hope to reduce the immense diversity 
of phenomena comprised oy the Cosmos to the unity of a principle and the evidence 



Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 17 

afforded by rational truths. In the present state of empirical knowledge, we 
can scarcely flatter ourselves with such a hope.'''' The author of the Cosmos also 
observes, in another place, when speaking of rocks, (Vol. L, page 254:) "J. 
plutonic action seems, to a certain extent, to have taken place in the sedimentary 
strata." There is great diversity of rocks in the earth, and the metals and 
minerals are very unequally distributed. 

In immense districts of the Andes there are no signs of granite ; in some 
countries no iron ; in the volcano Mauna Loa, in the Sandwich Islands, 
scarcely any pumice ; and New Caledonia, though surrounded by basaltic 
and other volcanic islands, has nothing but plutonic rock. In another place 
Humboldt, in allusion to the volcanoes of Mexico, remarks as follows, 
(Cosmos, Vol. I, page 377 :) " From this brief sketch it will oe seen, and it is 
well deserving of notice, that in the long range of volcanoes whicli extend from 
ocean to ocean, there are not two immediately succeeding each other which are of 
similar miner alogical composition." Thus it appears the interior of the earth 
is by no means uniform or homogeneous ; but, like the crust, is made up of 
every variety of materials. I would suggest that the earth cannot ever have 
been in a perfect molten condition, and it by no means follows that it has a 
molten core. I submit that the aggregation theory alone affords a rational 
solution of these discrepancies in geological science. It is also probable that 
many of the more ancient rocks were not formed on the earth, but at a much 
earlier period, as demonstrated by their similarity to meteoric masses. 

A paper by Mr. Atkinson, in the Memoirs of the Astronomical Society of 
London, estimates the mean temperature of the Equator at 86° 55' Fahren- 
heit ; and M. Arago concluded, from the results of Scoresby, Perry, and 
Franklin, that the mean temperature at the pole was 13°. "We shall not, 
therefore, greatly err in assuming the mean temperature of the surface of the 
earth at about 50° Fahrenheit. Dr. Ure, in his Dictionary of Arts, gives the 
evaporation of surface as follows : One square foot exposed to a fire will 
evaporate 725 grains of water per minute ; the same surface at a temperature 
of 88° evaporated 31 grains, and in a moist atmosphere only about 21-^ 
grains, varying from 23 to 34 times. During the volcanic disturbances of 
1868 and 18G9 there were very destructive rain storms and floods in the 
United States, and in various other parts of the world. Several occurred in 
the United States with a fall of six inches of rain in a few hours ; arid one 
which occurred within the observation of the author, in August, 1868, lasted 
about four hours, and during the last two hours it was estimated, by actual 
measurement, that 7£ inches of rain fell, and the first two hours were con- 
sidered ecjually violent ; and it Avas this unusual protracted severity which 
induced the author to take measures for estimating its quantity. The mean 
annual rain-fall on the globe has been estimated at 36 inches. It may, 
therefore, be assumed that when our earth, during the aggregation 
3 



18 Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 

of millions of comets and asteriods, (by calculation it would require 
t3,049 asteroids, each containing G, 816, 262 spherical miles, to form our 
earth,) was at a very elevated temperature— on its surface even as low as 250° 
Fahrenheit— the water would be in the condition of steam, and during the 
ages it was cooling the radiation of heat from the upper surface of the 
atmosphere would precipitate tbe most tremendous storms of rain— as high, 
probably, as 100 inches in one hour — frequently accompanied by cyclones 
and violent earthquakes. During this period tbe earth would be enveloped 
in gloom and darkness, and the light of day would be almost excluded by 
the deep, dense, cloudy atmosphere, and the lurid glare of the numerous vol- 
canic eruptions would impart to the night an aspect of terrific grandeur. As 
the ages rolled on the surface of the earth and the waters became cooler by the 
slow action of radiation. The fitting temperature stimulated into existence 
the first living organisms, and vegetation also commenced ; but the cooler 
crust of the earth is yet of inconsiderable thickness, and the connection of 
heat from the interior almost equal the radiation through a long period of 
time, thus preserving a heated temperature in the waters and the atmosphere, 
and the continuance of great evaporation and frequent violent storms, while 
occasional large masses of debris fall upon the earth, contributing to the 
materials for the numerous strata, and marking variations in their character 
and constitution. Immense quantities of minute marine shell fish also con- 
tribute to make up the strata, the ever-restless waters and other elements 
ceaselessly grinding the materials therefor. The frequent and sudden 
changes of character in the strata indicate the action sometimes of volcanic 
upheavals and submergings, and sometimes of additions of matter from 
ultra-mundane sources. In the course of many ages a rank vegetation, 
stimulated by the yet warm and moist atmosphere, covered the swamps and 
marshes, and gradually extended over all favorable locations. These again 
became submerged, and covered by deposits forming other strata, the vegeta- 
tion being converted into coal. According to Humboldt, the dense vegetation 
of the period consisted of a gieat variety of ferns, conifera, palms, and other 
species, about 400 in all, and he further remarks as follows, (Cosmos, Vol. I., 
page 280 •) " In order to (five some idea of the luxuriance of the vegetation of 
the primitive world, and of the immense masses of vegetable matter which teas 
doubtless accumulated in currents, and converted in a moist condition into coal. 
1 would instance the Sarbrucker coal measures, where 120 beds are superposed on 
one another, exclusive of a great many whicli are less than a foot in thick- 
ness." Aerolites vary greatly in their composition. According to Humboldt, 
some contain 96 per cent, of iron, others only two per cent, of iron, others no 
metallic iron, and one earthy aerolite broke up in water. According to Ber- 
zelius, the chemical elements of oerolites consist of the same as those 
distributed throughout the earth's crust, and are 15 in number, viz., iron, 



Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 10 

nickel, cobalt, manganese, chromium, copper, arsenic, zinc, potash, soda, 
sulphur, phosphorus, and carbon constituting nearly one-third of all the known 
simples. The first commencement of aggregation round a central power 
would produce them in immense quantities, as the force and velocity of the 
scattering debris would be far greater than the attractive power of the united 
pieces could restrain. These fragments would fly in every direction ; and 
large quantities of those which received a retrogade impulse would fall back 
into the sun. Others would fly round the sun in all directions. The fre- 
quency with which they fall upon the earth is an indication that they are yet 
very numerous 

X The satellite of the earth is unusually large in proportion to its primary. 
• There is reason to suppose that it was aggregated as an indepen- 
dent planet in an orbit of its own. The orbit was probably situated between 
the Earth and Mars, nearer to the Earth than Mars. A favorable disposition 
of the exterior planets has deflected and retarded it it in its course, and a 
favorable disposition of the interior planets has increased the recoil, and it 
has fallen in front of and crossed the Earth's path, within the Earth's attrac- 
tion, and being retarded by their mutual attractions, and the Earth accelera- 
ted proportionally moved on, and the satellite commenced to accompany the 
Earth in its course. Its mass, according to Lindeman, is one-eightieth of 
the Earth; the force of its attraction on its surface 0.164, the Earth being 
one thousand equals one-sixth the attraction of the Earth ; its density 0.619 
to Earth's one thousand. The probabilities are that it revolved on its axis 
from west to east, like the other planets. It is probably composed of the 
same description of materials as the earth, and has water and an atmosphere ; 
and from its appearance it has had seas. If we take it into consideration its 
density, and assume it to be composed of the same materials as the earth, and 
that six terrestrial pounds would only equal one pound upon the moon, it becomes 
reasonable to supj^ose it must have immense caverns caused by the expansive 
gases of the numerous volcanoes.* Indeed, over one-third its volume must 
consist of empty space, which, from the cooling of the crust, remains in that 
condition, something like a vast mineral sponge. As the interior fires cooled, 
the water and the atmosphere would pass into the inside. The porous nature 
of the crust permits the entrance of some light ; the crust is cool and dry; 
the radiation of heat extremely diminished, the interior may still retain a 
genial >varmth, and it3 vast caverns abound with animal and vegetable life. 
It might even be better than our Polar regions for intelligent beings ; and if 
the enclosed waters occupy the central area, which is quite probable, then 
there would be a tide every revolution passing backwards and forwards 
past its centre, during rotation ; and the continual change of motion of the 
waters would soon stop the rotation, and make it settle with one side towards 
* See Appendix, 



x 20 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

the earth, as the power which influenced it most, and the fact that it does 
lipid one side to the earth somewhat confirms this hypothesis. It is too small 
to ever have been conspicuous for storms, and its centre probably consists of 
immense masses of rocks partially filled with lava, so there would be no 
grinding detrision to form strata. Humboldt, in Cosmos, Vol. IV., page 114, 
gives an account of a singular tradition or historical myth : " The Pre-Ilel- 
lenic Pelasgian inhabitants of Arcadia called themselves Proselenes, because they 
boasted they came into the country before the moon accompanied the earth. 
P re-Hellenic and Pre-Lunarian were synonymous.." In a series of notes he gives 
a series' of passages from the ancients upon the subject, and in another 
note on page 115 he adds as follows : " In the New Continent there is, upon the 
elevated plains of Bogota, the race of May seas ar Mozcas, who, in their historical 
myths, boast of a Proselenic antiquity. The origin of the moon is connected with 
the tradition of a great flood," etc. Thus both the Old World and the New 
World have a similar tradition. 

MIn Van Nostrand's Magazine for October, 1869, I first i'ead of Mayer's 
• great discovery, the mechanical equivalent of heat, and about the same 
time I saw, in Ennis's Origin of the Stars, that Mayer had the honor of first sug- 
gesting the collision of two stars to produce a sun. The rotary motion by 
collision, and the great generation of heat, had occurred to myself several years 
before in South America. A Fahrenheit thermometer placed on the sand, under 
a vertical sun, on a bright, clear day, within the tropics, indicated 125°, with 
this data — If we assume four radiating lines extending from the centre of the 
sun to the earth, and intersecting the corners of a square foot upon the sun's 
surface ; at double the distance from the centre these lines will enclose 4 
square feet ; at three times the distance 3x3 = 9 square feet. It will be manifest 
that the temperature will decrease inversely as the squares of the distances, 
therefore it will then be only one-ninth the temperature of the sun at the dis- 
tance of 3 times the sun's radius ; therefore, the distance of the earth being 
214.65 radii, and 214.G5 2 === 46,074 ; therefore, \ the earth is 46,074 times 
cooler than the sun ; but as the thermometer indicated that the earth is 125°, 
then 125 x 46,074 = 5,759,250° Fahrenheit as the temperature of the sun's 
surface. If we now multiply 5,759,250 x 85.65, the number of terrestrial 
pounds in a cubic foot of the sun, it will stand as follows : 

5,759,250 x 85.65 =* 493,164,577 units of heat in each cubic foot of the 
sun. 

According to Mayer, 772 lbs. falling one foot per minute, or 1 pound falling 
772 feet per minute, is equal to one unit of heat developed, and one unit of 
heat will raise 1 pound of water 1° degree Fahrenheit. 

It has been estimated by astronomers that the comet of 1680, in its pere- 
helion passage, approached within, one-sixth of the -sun's diameter from his 
surface, or within 128,466 miles. The velocity at that period was estimated 



Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 21 

at 344 miles in a second, or 1,816.320 feet; and by calculation, if it had 
actually gone to the sun's surface, it would have been at least 887,754 feet 
more, making a total of 2,704,074 feet per second. Then assuming our sun 
to be formed by the conjunction of two suns, each equal to one-half the mass 
of the sun, their united velocities at the moment of collision will certainly be 
equal to the velocity of the comet above mentioned, or 2,704,074 feet per 
second, as the same mass of matter will produce the same velocity whatever 
be the proportion of the two parts to each other. If the mass of the comet 
was one thousandth part of the sun, then the sun would approach toward 
the comet 1 foot, while the comet approached toward the sun 999 feet ; and if 
the masses were as one to four, then the one would move 200 feet and the 
other 800 feet, and so on. The density of the sun is to water as 1.37 to 1. 
Then the case will stand as follows : A cubic foot of the sun is just about 
one-fourth the density of a cubic foot of our earth, by calculation, 85.63 
pounds ; but one terrestrial pound when upon the sun is equal to 27.9 pounds ; 
tben 2.704,07.1 x27.9x co x 8 5 .e3 ._ 502,091,269 units of heat in every cubic foot of the 
sun. The result obtained by the thermometer was 493,164,577 units per 
cubic foot, and if we allow 2:}- degrees more for loss in the atmosphere, the 
two results will be equal. 

Sir John Herschel, at the Cape of Good Hope, ascertained by experiment 
that a square foot of dark surface exposed to the sun's rays acquired heat at 
the average rate of 5 units per minute, and as the proportion is 1 foot of sun 
to 46,074 ;fecfc of earth surface, therefor? 46,074 x 5 = 230,370 units of heat 
per minute radiating from one square foot of the sun. By calculation, this 
is sufficient to run an engine of 378 horse power. Every square foot of the 
sun's surface radiates the heat from the mass beneath, extending to the centre 
of the sun, a mass equal to 781,945,768 cubic feet of molten matter, heated 
about two thousand times hotter than molten iron, and each cubic foot con- 
taining over 500,000,000 of units of heat. By calculation, at 230,370 units 
radiating per minute from the single foot of surface, it would require 25,440 
years to reduce the sun's power upon the earth 1° Fahrenheit, and this as- 
suming no additional supply of heat meanwhile, which is by no means neces- 
sarily obliged to be the case, as I will endeavor to demonstrate presently. 

MTwo theories of light have been advanced by eminent mathemati- 
• cians, viz. ; The corpuscular theory, by Sir Isaac Newton, and the 
uudulatory theory, by Huygens, and both have their advocates among^eini- 
nent men. The first theory, according to Sir John Herschel, defines light to 
consist of matter in extremely minute particles, possessed of inertia and 
endowed with attractive and repulsive forces, and projected or emitted from 
all luminous bodies with nearly the same velocity, about 192,500 statute 
miles per second (according to the latest authorities). This theory is elabo- 
rate, and the greater part of it very clear and intelligible, while other parts 
are more obscure. 



22 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

The second or undulatory theory is as follows ; That an excessive rare, 
subtle, and elastic medium or ether lills all space, and pervades all material 
bodies, occuping the intervals between their molecules, and either by passing 
freely among them, or by extreme rarity, offering no resistance to the motion 
of the earth, the planets, or comets in their orbits, appreciable by the most 
delicate astronomical observations ; and having inertia, but not gravity, that 
the molecules of the ether are susceptible of being set in. vibratory motion 
like waves, by the agitation of the particles of ponderable matter, which 
waves, are remarkable for the extreme rapidity of their motions. Each of 
these theories have their dilemmas, and it is at present impossible to say 
which is the true one. The undulatory theory has been compared to the 
propagation of sound. But sound cannot be propagated without a medium, 
as air, gases, fluids, and solids, and it is propagated through solid metallic 
substances, as iron, far more rapidly than through the air. Air, unless com- 
pressed more or less, as in our atmosphere, will not transmit sound ; and it 
would appear, therefore, on dynamic considerations, that the ether must also 
be under considerable compression, or it could not make 500,000,000,000,- 
000 of vibrations in one second. I have seen the argument advanced, in 
favor of the undulatory theory, that the enormous waste resulting from the 
corpuscular theory, viz. : The superficies of a srfhere, the diameter of the 
earth's orbit, is to the area of a disc the diameter of the earth as 145,2G1,309 
to 1, and the light which the other planets receive scarcely affects the result ; 
hence the enormous apparent waste of light and heat is urged as inconsistent 
with the economy of Nature. It has been claimed that the undulatory theory 
avoids this waste; but it is evident that light, heat and power are synony- 
mous, being lespectively converted any one into the others. In either theory 
the heat reaches the earth, and as nothing can originate from nothing the 
effect must have a cause, and the effect is, therefore, as much lost by one theory 
as the other. We know almost to a certainty that the sun must be receiving 
constant additions, according to Olbers and Quetelet (Cosmos, Vol. IV). A 
single observer can, on ordinary nights, see from six to eight meteors or 
shooting stars per hour, and assuming each person capable of watching one 
hundred square miles, or an area ten miles square, it would require nearly 
400,000 men on the dark side only to watch, and if we allow only five seen by 
each, it will make 2,000,000 ; but the superficies of the earth's orbit, as before 
statc^, is 145.261,309 to 1, or over 145,000,000 to 1, which, being multiplied by 
2,000,000, gives the enormous quantity of 290,522,618,000,000. A very large 
proportion of these must reach the sun, and striking with the velocity due to 
that all-absorbing power, would certainly appear to be sufficient to continue 
the light of the sun indefinitely. When shooting stars strike the upper 
regions of our atmosphere they burst into a small but brilliant light, but when 
striking the dense, heated atmosphere of the sun with the immense velocity of 



Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 23 

the comet before mentioned, the effect would be brilliant in the* extreme, just 
indeed as we see it. Mayer has the honor of first advancing this doctrine of 
meteors falling into the sun as fuel. His ideas were pronounced extravagant 
but they are better appreciated now. Of course rocks and stones would 
make poor fuel, in the usuai acceptation of the term, and indeed no descrip- 
tion of fuel could be so concentrated as to produce, as mere fuel, the effect we 
see ; but every description of matter, when used in the manner indicated 
above, would produce the magnificent effect we witness. 

According to Roscoe, Dr. Wollaston was the first person to observe the won- 
derful dark lines in the solar spectrum, which, like a messenger from the 
regions of space, makes us acquainted with the chemical constitution of the 
sun and the stars, even to the most minute particulars ; but we are indebted 
to Fraunhofer, a German optician, for the first map of these mystical lines. 
Fraunhofcr mapped 576 of these lines, and concluded, after long considera- 
tion, that whatever produced these lines was something beyond and outside 
our atmosphere, and this conclusion was afterwards borne out. 

The same authority further says: "The science of spectrum analysis rests 
upon the theory of exchanges. This states that a gas or any other body which, 
when incandescent, is perfectly transparent to a certain class of rays, cannot emit 
these rays, out that it must emit any rays to which it is not perfectly transparent. 
To illustrate which, the sodinm spectrum consists of one double bright yelloio line, 
and this bright double yellow sodium line is exactly coincident with Fraunhofer 's 
dark double line D. The spectrum of a Drummond light is continuous ; it con- 
tains no dark lines or spaces. We here learn the important fact that if between 
the prism and the Drummond light a soda fame be placed, a dark double line 
identical with Fraunhofer'' s double UneD, is produced ; if instead of using Drum- 
moncVs light tee use sunlight through the sodium flame, ice see that the line D 
becomes much more distinct than when sunlight alone is employed. The sodium 
flame has therefore the power of absorbing the same kind of rays as it emits; hence 
the light from sodium combines with and absorbs the light produced by 
sodium, and the light from iron or any other metal combines with and absorbs 
the light from iron, &c, and so on with other metals and all the primitive 
elements.'' I will now quote another paragraph from Roscoe (page 288). It 
is respecting the spectrum of a nebulous spot, as follows : '< If we had evidence 
that the other lines which, presents themselves in the spectra of nitrogen and hydro- 
gen were quenched on their way to us, ice should have to consider their disappear- 
ance as an indication of a power of extinction residing in cosmical space, similar to 
that which teas suggested from theoretical considerations by Cheseaux, and icas 
afterwards supported on other grounds by Olbers and the elder Struve. Further, 
as the lines which ice see in the nebula are precisely those which experiment shows 
would longest resist extinction— at least, so far as respects their power of pro- 
ducing an impression on our visual organs— we might conclude that this absorptive 



24 Great Facts of Modem Astrofbomy. 

property of space is not elective in its action on light, out is of the character of a 
general absorption, acting equally, or nearly so, on light of every degree of refran- 
gilrility?' 1 Here we have a distinct admission, supported by the opinions of 
three eminent men, that possibly space posseses the quality of absorbing light of 
every degree ; a most important admission in its consequences, as I will demon- 
strate presently. 

I again quote from Roscoe, where he alludes to some experiments on colored 
flames by Sir John Herschel (page 118), as follows; " It is also remarkable 
that alcohol burnt in an open vessel, or in a lamp with a metallic wick, gives 
but little of the yellow light ; while, if the wick be of cotton, it gives a 
considerable quantity, and that for an unlimited time." (I have found other 
instances of a change of color in flames, owing to the mere presence of the 
substance, which suffers no diminution in. consequence. Thus, a particle of 
muriate of lime on the wick of a spirit-lamp will produce a quantity of red 
and green rays for a whole evening, without being itself sensibly diminished.) 
Again (page 119), he refers to the statement of Talbot, that a piece of chloride 
of calcium, by its mere presence in the wick of a flame, and without suffering 
any diminution, causes a red and green line to appear in the spectrum. And 
on the same page he remarks, " Wheatstonc has already noticed that when 
the poles of an electric battery consist of two different metals, the spectrum 
contains the lines of both metals. Hence it became of interest to see whether 
a compound of these metals, especially a chemical compound, also gives the 
lines of both metals, or whether the compound is distinguished by the 
occurrence of new lines. Experiment shows that the fust supposition is 
correct. Swan showed how extremely minute was the quantity of sodium 
required to produce the yellow line." At page 185 we learn that it was Faraday 
who first declared that the electric spark consists solely of the material parti- 
cles of the poles and the medium through which it passes. This may be 
explained to mean that the particles from the poles and in the medium through 
which it passes give the electric current the materials for the light which 
renders it visible, not the materials for the electricity ; therefore light is 
material, and it can be produced from every description of material, but it is 
matter so extremely attenuated that ii is extremely difficult to measure the 
quantity. On page 63 Roscoe gives, as illustrations of the extremely minute 
quantities of different kinds of matter which can be easily detected, as fol- 
lows : sodium, one one-hundred-and-eightv -millionth part of a grain ; lithium, 
one six-millionth part of a grain; stronium, one-millionth part of a grain ; 
calcium, one-millionth part of a grain. It therefore follows that different 
substances differ in the quantity of light they give. And at page G7, in illus- 
trating an experiment, he (Roscoe) remarks ; " Now the sodium is very nearly 
burnt out, and the lithium will soon disappear, whereas the green bands, 
produced by the less volatile barium compounds will remain for a greater 



Great Facts of Modern Astronomy, 



25 



length of time. Here wo have direct evidence again that there is consump- 
tion of matter in the production of light, and that consequently light is 
matter. Indeed, it appears contrary to all scientific evidence to assume that 
actinic or chemical power can exist in mere undulations without the presence 
of actual matter. Chemical affinity is a property of matter, not of motion, 
YTTT Cosmos, Vol I., page 106, we learn that " Encke's comet has a 
JJLxX.le period of revolution of about three and one third years, out from a 
careful comparison of the epoch of its return to its perehelion, the remarkable fact- 
has been discovered that these periods have diminished in the most regular manner 
between the years 1788 and 1888, the diminution amounting in the course of 53 
years to about one and eight-tenth days. The attempt to bring into unison the 
results of observation and calculation in the investigation of all the planetary 
disturbances, with the view of explaining this phenomenon, has led to the adoption 
of a very probable hypothesis that there exists, dispersed in space, a vaporous sub- 
stance capable of acting as « resisting medium. This matter diminishes the 
tangential force, and with it the major axis of the comet's orbit /' and he adds 
the following significant remark : " The value of the constant of the rcsist- 
ance appears to be somewhat different before and after the perehelion ; and 
this may perhaps be ascribed to the altered form of the small nebulous star 
in the vicinity of the sun, and to the action of the unequal density of the 
strata or cosmical ether." We will presently endeavor to give another reason 
for this resistance. It is well known that the tail of a comet always points 
directly from the sun, both in approaching and in receding from that body. 
The celebrated Kepler attributes this to the action of the stream of light 
flowing from the sun upon the extremely attenuated matter of the comet's 
tail. Sir John Herschel describes the tails of comets as often curved, bend- 
ing in the direction towards the region which the comet has left, as if moving- 
more slowly, or as if resisted in their course. Sir John Herschel farther on 
adds : " Sometimes they make their appearance as faint and slow-moving 
objects, with little or no tail ; but bj» degrees accelerate, enlarge, and throw 
out from the head this appendage, which increases in length and brightness 
till they approach the sun and are lost in his beams. After a time they again 
emerge on the other side, receding from the sun with a velocity at first rapid, 
but gradually decaying. It is after thus passing the sun, and not till then, that 
they shine forth in all their splendor, and that their tails acquire their greatest 
length and development; thus indicating plainly the action of the sun's rays 
as the exciting cause of that extraordinary emanation." 

The tail of the comet of 1680, immediately after its perehelion passage, 
was found by Newton to have been no less than 20,000,000 of leagues in 
length, and to have occupied only two days in its emission from the comet's 
body, a decisive proof this (in Herschel's opinion) of its being darted forth 

4 



26 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

by some active force, the origin of which, to judge from the direction of the 
tail, must be sought in the sun itself. 

It will be observed this is precisely the effect which a stream of light, flow- 
ing in all directions from the sun, would produce, as also observed by the 
clear intellect of Kepler. The advocates of the undulatory theory of light 
regard the fact of Encke's comet being retarded as proof of the universal 
existence of the ether-filling space. 

It will be observed that Humboldt makes the significant remark that the value 
of the constant of the resistance is somewhat different before and after the 
perehelion. Now every schoolboy knows that a streamer attached to a flag- 
staff, if advancing against the wind, will point backwards, but if going with 
the wind the streamer will go first, pointing in the direction of the wind, pro- 
vided the motion of the wind exceeds the motion of the flagstaff. Upon 
this principle, the comet's tail indicates as plainly as anything can do the 
direction of resistance. It indicates that a constant stream of light is flowing 
from the sun in all directions, which resists the comet when approaching, and 
propels it when receding. Thus ; when approaching, the resistance is as the 
square of the velocity — the velocity of light plus the velocity of the comet ; 
receding, it will restore some of the lost velocity by propulsion, on account 
of the greatly superior velocity of light, but not all, as the propelling power 
will then be as the square of the velocity, minus the velocity of the comet, 
and the difference will be permanently lost to the comet, and manifestly 
this resistance will diminish as the squares ot the distances from the sun. 

Fracastoro and Appianus say a line produced in the head of a comet, in 
the direction of the axis of the tail, meets the sun. Seneca observes : "The 
tails of comets fly from the sun's rays." The tails of comets are first formed 
on the side nearest the sun, being produced, as generally supposed, by the 
intense heat ; they apparently, in some instances, are blown like a jet of 
steam a short distance toward the sun, and then driven back as by the action 
of a strong wind, and this action of a comet's tail does not appear to admit 
of rational explanation on any other hypothesis than to consider light as 
matter extremely attenuated, flowing in a constant stream from the sun. 
Therefore, it follows that during ordinary combustion there are two processes 
involved ; one process converts the greater parts of the material into its 
original elements of gases, fluids, minerals, and earths, while an exceedingly 
minute portion is converted into the ultimate attenuation of all matter, as 
light, heat, electricity, magnetism, or power. 

VTTT According to Struve, light travels 160,196 geographical miles per 
-A.X T • second ; this, multiplied by 6,086, or number of feet in a mile, and 
this by 60, to bring it into minutes, and then divide by 772, the mechanical 
equivalent in pounds, it would stand as follows : 

00000001272 x 700 = 78,611,554, or re>61I|BM part of a pound, 



Great Facts of Modem Astronomy. 27 

which converted into decimal fractions, 000000.01272 parts of a pound, and 
this multiplied by 60,088,131,360 feet per minute velocity, gives 771.95 
pounds, or 772 foot-pounds ; therefore a ray of light, if it develops one 
unit of heat per minute, with a velocity of 106,196 miles per second = ^,Ur ei 
part of a pound, or ~°T = 000089 = ,i of a grain. 

According to the same authority, light requires 8£ minutes to pass from 
the sun to the earth, a distance of 82,342,000 geographical miles, and a ray 
of light one foot square at the sun, enclosed in four lines radiating from 
the sun's centre to the earth, will be 214.05 feet square at the earth = 46,074 
square feet, and the sun beam enclosed will weigh 169 grains terrestrial, 
emanating every 8i minutes, or 20.51 gmins per minute from each square 
foot of the sun's surface.. I find in Van Nostrand's Magazine for January, 
1870, an article taken from the "Engineer," (English magazine), which gives 
the duty of one grain of coal equal 143 foot-pounds. By calculation, one 
grain of solid matter falling into the sun from space, with the velocity of the 
comet of 1680, as calculated before, would give 4,522 times the heat pro- 
duced by one grain of coal used in the ordinary manner as fuel, or one pound 
would be equal to over two tons of coal used in the most efficient manner ; 
hence the wonderful energy of solar heat and light. It must be remembered 
that the solar fire can have no ashes and debris ; everything is converted into 
light and heat by the most perfect of combustion, as in that condition only 
can anything become dissipated into space, where in the silent regions of cold 
and darkness atom attracts atom by absorption, and the apparent waste of 
light and heat becomes again formed into light flakes of solid matter, such 
as constitute the so-called shooting stars, and commence again their journey 
towards one of the numerous suns which gem the heavens, and thus we have 
good' reason to believe each sun is maintained in its glory and splendor 
waste, no loss of power or material ; and, like all the mechanism of the Great 
Engineer of the Universe, wonderfully perfect in its operation, stupendous, 
and sublime. 

~\T T7 We will now make some explanations relative to the sun's rotative 
J\. T o velocity. It will be manifest that the velocity of rotation resulting from 
the collision and conjunction of two bodies which, when united, form a mass 
equal to the sun, and which approached each other with a united velocity of 
444 miles per second, on lines tangential to each other or ultra tangential, would 
have a rotative velocity at least equal to one revolution in one-and-a-half 
hours ; and as the effect should be equal to the cause, it should, therefore, 
throw off an immense quantity of debris to the remote boundaries of our 
system. But i the sun now only makes one revolution in twenty-five and-a- 
half days ; there must, therefore, have been some cause for this great loss of 
velocity. The quantity of matter thrown off per minute from each foot of 
the sun's surface as light will be equal to 20.51 grains ; now the total quantity 



'28 Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 

of matter under each foot of the sun's surface is 781,945,708 cubic feet. It 
will be evident if we remove onp-half this quantity, and replace it with an 
equal quantity having no rotative velocity, it would reduce the rotative mo- 
tion one-half, even though this exchange was made grain by grain ; and I 
find by calculation this would require at the rate of 20.51 grains per minute 
21,711,705 years; and to reduce the velocity from one revolution in one and 
a half hours to one revolution in twenty -five and a half days would require 
this process to be continued 200,531,180 years. Now an action somewhat 
similar would take place to retard the velocity of the planets. In this case 
the original matter always remains, and the retardation is produced by 
throwing upon the surface a given quantity of matter as light having no 
rotative rotation, which again radiates into space. By calculation, I find 
this quantity upon the earth cannot exceed G s part of the earth's volume, or 
£ 7 2 of the earth's mass, during the 200,000,000 of years. Therefore, the infer 
ence is, that the material forming the earth and planets was thrown from the 
sun before it had time to attain the suddenly increased rotary velocity of the 
sun. There would also be a certain amount of loss at the conjunctions during 
aggregation. The retarding effect of light upon the planets would be greatest 
upon the nearest, and least upon the most distant. 

Respecting the sun-spots there is a cause which I have nowhere seen men- 
tioned, vi z . : The atmosphere of the sun is very deep — estimated at probably 
several thousand miles— during the vast cyclones which occur, according to 
the authorities, upon the sun's surface ; may not an immense volume sud 
denly rise from below into the upper regions of the sun's atmosphere ? By 
the sudden relief from pressure it would expand quite a number of times, 
and become comparatively cool. It seems probable the effect would last as 
long as the spots do. 

~Y"\7"T * n conc l us i° n i we behold a mighty universe inflames. Not more 
jX. i L than seoVo part of our own system is known to be capable of sus- 
taining man, and of this part at least two-thirds is water. Of the whole 
system 738 parts is the most intense fire, one part only forming the planetary 
bodies ; man is an extremely minute insect upon one of the smallest of these ; 
our world is a mere spark thrown from the sun, as a small ball one inch 
diameter to a globe nine feet four inches diameter; and here we are circling 
round this immense globe of fire for almost countless ages— over 300,000,000 
of years ; restrained by the centrifugal force from falling into the sun, and pre- 
vented from flying off into the cold, dark regions of space by an unknown 
power which we recognise by its effects only ; that mysterious power by 
which the supreme intellect fashions and molds the stars. Our sun and 
planets have been formed by aggregation. There is great probability that 
the same materials have formed anterior systems, which by aggregation were 
destroyed ; and there is every reason to suppose the same fate is in store for ou 



Great Facts of Modern Astronomy. 29 

system in the remote future. Oar srin and planets are being translated through 
space, in the direction of a point in the constellation Hercules, with an esti- 
mated velocity (according to Bessel) of about four millions of miles daily. 
According to Arago, our sun is a rapidly-moving fixed star — a fact of por- 
tentous significance. The universe of matter is ever seeking repose, and 
never finding it ; everything is constantly undergoing changes in longer 
or] shorter periods of time. Our beautiful world must, in obedience to 
the eternal laws of creation, again pass through the fiery ordeal of destruc- 
tion and reorganization; and the future geologist of*a future world may 
discover some slight remains burnt into and forming part of the rocks of an 
anterior period, which he will probably not suspect once formed a part of a 
living organism, whose history will then belong to the dim, shadowy records 
of the past Eternity. 



All things breathe some language, though we may not understand 
The endless combinations seen in Nature wild and grand ; 
The records of Eternity, the mysteries of Time, 
Upon all things are impress'd deep in characters sublime. 
From the vaulted dome of Heaven each sparkling ray of light 
Flashes its thousand wonders forth, in mystic language bright ; 
They tell of countless worlds that were, and mighty suns that shone, 
'Ere man commenced his history, far back in the ages gone. 

All things bear the impress of pre-eminent design, 

Of their wondrous adaptation to the lot they are assigned. 

Each animal upon the earth, each creature in the air, 

Each living thing in ocean's depths its evidence doth bear ; 

Each tree and plant, each shrub and flower, that blooms upon the plain, 

Or clings upon the mountain's side, the sport of wind and rain, 

Bears witness to the intellect and wisdom that abound 

Through Nature's vast immensity, the infinite profound. 

To Thee, O Deity, belongs the intellect sublime 
To trace each atom in its course, throughout the endless time. 
Thine is the power alone to frame the laws which shape each form, 
The wisdom to design, to build, to mold, and to adorn. 
The mighty spheres obey Thee, and go their destined race ; 
Subject to Thy benign rule, each creature find3 its place ; 
And through the endless ages, every moment of each hour, 
Each atom of Thy Universe proclaims Thy wondrojrs power. 



APPENDIX 



A few days after placing my manuscript in the hands of the printer, I 
saw, at a friend's house, Procter's work, entitled, " More Worlds Than One, 1 ' 
and finding his views on the moon very similar to my own, in order to keep 
myself clear of the imputation of plagiarism I wrote to a friend, to whom I 
had years before communicated my ideas on the present condition of the 
moon, and received the following reply, which explains itself. 

WM. S. HENSON. 



Roseville, Newark, N. J., May 24, 1871. 
Dear Sir : 

It must be at least three years since you imparted to me your views 
that the moon, by reason of its different gravity, was inhabited inside, where 
you had very little doubt but that circumstances were as easily arranged for 
human life as we find them on our earth. Much more to the same purpose I 
well remember, which I. can vouch for, if necessary. 

Yours truly, HORATIO T. HEWITT. 

To Wm. S. Hen son, 

Roseville, N. J. 



*** The Author will hereafter publish a supplement, with explanatory illus- 
trations and diagrams, tables, &c, &c. 



Printed and published for the author and proprietor, Wm. S. Henson, 
566 Orange street, Newark, New Jersey, to whom all orders must be sent. 



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